The surprise hit movie about a pair of Dubliners who meet and make beautiful music together became a stage sensation and won a passel of Tony Awards; now it opens Florida Studio Theatre’s mainstage season. Set largely in a pub filled with musicians, Once demands that its leads play their instruments on stage as well as sing, act and fall in love.

Chalk Festival

Nov. 10-13

Hundreds of “pavement” artists gather at the Venice Airport festival grounds for this 10th annual celebration of chalk painting. Watch them make their remarkable—and ephemeral—creations, and try some chalk drawing yourself. Rounding out the Chalk Festival experience are music, poetry, refreshments and even a chance to view the art from hot air balloons with a $10 donation.

Dvořák’s Cello Concerto, performed by the renowned Spanish cellist, and Mahler’s soaring Symphony No. 5 open the Sarasota Orchestra’s Masterworks season with three performances at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. Music director Anu Tali conducts.

The area’s biggest sand sculpture festival returns to Siesta Beach with two dozen of the nation’s top sand sculptors. Marvel at their creations, take a free sand-sculpting lesson of your own; sign up for the amateur competition and cheer on the “quick sand” speed sculpting competition. Plus food and drink vendors; and music from Reverend Barry & The Funktastic Soul, Kettle of Fish, Jah Movement and One Night Rodeo. The complete schedule is at siestakeycrystalclassic.com.

The bright young singers of the Sarasota Opera’s Youth Opera program each fall bring us a delightfully sung and staged opera with a positive message for the whole family. This year’s is an adaptation of Carl Sandburg’s famed 1922 Rootabaga Stories. Two performances at the Opera House.